I'm a Plastic Surgeon—13 High-Caliber Drugstore Beauty Products I Recommend to My Patients
From a French pharmacy fave to a potent vitamin C serum.
Welcome to Drugstore Heroes, a monthly series in which we spotlight the often-overlooked and underhyped drugstore beauty products that industry experts count on. We're asking tastemakers, from editors to content creators and even celebs, to share their top recommendations for affordable yet effective products. Get ready to see the best of drugstore beauty, period.
I've been a beauty editor for a long time (10 years to be exact), and in my opinion, plastic surgeons provide some of the best, most specific beauty advice. They're aesthetic experts who are also medical doctors, which means they're uniquely positioned in the beauty industry to offer elite product recommendations. I'm talking about products that truly make a visible difference in one's appearance, whether it's an anti-acne retinoid that's clinically proven to control breakouts or a potent antioxidant serum with a demonstrated history of brightening and evening the skin. You ask for it, and they've got it.
Enter Carey Campbell, MD. She's a board-certified plastic surgeon and partner at StarkMD. As a confessed "big believer" in medical-grade skincare, she recommends high-caliber brands such as Alastin, PCA, Revision, ZO Skin Health, EltaMD, and SkinBetter Science to her patients with great frequency. "However, if patients tell me that those lines are not within reach for them, I would always prefer that they reach for products that meet their skincare needs and are of good quality," she adds. That's when she provides high-caliber yet affordable options aka her drugstore heroes.
"I think it's important to recognize that there are times when more affordable options are effective but also to make sure you realize when the medical-grade option is worth the added cost," she says. While hidden drugstore gems can't replace high-end recommendations, they can complement them or create an effective high-low routine.
"With experience, research, and some experimentation, you can find what products are right for your stage of life and skin type," she says. "Looking for dermatologist-formulated brands helps as well as looking for products with the specific active ingredients you need, like vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and retinol."
"Specific" is the keyword there. Campbell cautions against introducing multiple active ingredients into your skincare routine at once, specifically potentially irritating ones like vitamin C and retinoids. "Add those products slowly. Don't jump into something meant to increase cell turnover and another that exfoliates all at once. Your skin will be irritated, and you'll blame the product rather than the way you applied it," she advises.
Below, Campbell is sharing her 13 drugstore heroes, from cleansers and retinoids to SPF, body oil, and more.
Campbell's Favorite Drugstore Products
"I keep this small travel size in my travel bag and a large one at home. I like it to remove my eye makeup without drying my skin out before I wash my face. The glycerin keeps the skin hydrated while cleansing, and the micelles are spherical chemicals that surround dirt and oil. There are also reports that it can increase skin permeability for other products."
"Again, this is glycerin based, so it's great for more mature, drier skin, as it moisturizes as it cleanses."
"Fifteen percent L-ascorbic acid, ferulic acid, and ergothioneine—the holy grail and SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic's Target cousin. Now that CE Ferulic is off patent, you'll see more options that are similar to its technology. Vitamin C is important in your skincare regimen for its protection against oxidative stress and photoaging. All the Prequel products really do seem to be great products."
"This is good for normal to oily skin and is meant to deep-cleanse without stripping the skin. It has ceramides to protect the skin barrier, niacinamide to calm inflammation, and glycerin to hydrate."
"If you are acne prone, this is a great over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide face wash that I have liked."
"This is Retin-A's little sister. Both are derived from vitamin A. It is intended for acne treatment but is now over the counter. It is a much gentler retinoid, but it can be a great option for people having trouble tolerating Retin-A and are just starting with anti-aging retinoids. Retin-A will always be the gold standard in anti-aging, though. But this is what I use, as I still get some hormonal breakouts."
"I stumbled onto this lip gloss when I had forgotten a lip gloss and ran into Walgreens and grabbed it. I have repurchased it multiple times. It feels super moisturizing to me, and I love the color Heat."
"I keep this in my makeup bag in my purse in case I need to see patients when I scrub out of the OR. I find a little liner and mascara bring my eyes to life when I haven't had time to apply before starting my surgery day."
"I have a permanent box of these on my countertop at home and keep the small boxes for travel. I really like to keep my towels clean for washing and drying my face and find these to be a simple alternative to doing the laundry every day. My surgeon life doesn't have time for that!"
"The European drugstore version of this has next-generation UV filters like Mexoryl 400, Tinosorb S, and Uvinul A Plus, so if you're in Europe on your summer vacation, pick up some of the European version or check out specialty sites! If you don't plan to pond-hop this summer, I do still love the American version. It is a nongreasy mineral sunscreen with antioxidant properties, and tinted is always nice if you are prone to melasma."
"I have these in every travel bag and makeup bag. I consistently buy them, and they will resharpen them, although I admit I have never sent them back to have it done. [You] never know when those rogue chin hairs or eyebrows will pop up in different light."
"I recommend this to patients after chemical peels. It is cold when it comes out of the spray bottle, which some people really like after resurfacing procedures. It's a great emollient, just like regular Aquaphor for dry skin, but I really lean into it for resurfacing and sunburns. Hello, summer… in case you forgot to reapply."
"For healed but fresh scars, I recommend patients use silicone-based products for scar massage to keep scars soft and flat. Many of my patients use Silagen scar gel, which isn't available at the drugstore, but for patients with more scar length, like full mommy makeovers with abdomen and breast scars, this is a nice alternative that is more cost-effective."
Campbell's 13 high-impact drugstore beauty recommendations come in at just $242.
